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Thursday, September 02, 2010
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| | Email this article • Print this article | New rules for cameras and recorders in county board room; Parks plan revisions adopted and public comment part of meeting well used
BY DENISE MARTIN
The Code of Conduct for Chisago County Board meetings was revised last week in response to advancements in electronic news gathering and as part of continuing revisions to protect the right to be able to participate in public meetings.
The Board adopted a new rule that calls for use of devices for recording sound and images to simply "not be disruptive." Before, the Code required devices to be positioned in a specific location in the Board Room. The code guideline generally allows use of devices smaller than 4 by 6 inches and not higher off the ground than three feet when setup for use. However, if the devices are disruptive or the behavior of the operator is disruptive the chair of the Board can exercise controls.
The Code also previously recognized members of "the media" as being able to utilize devices. There now is no definition of who is the recognized media or attempt to define who may use the devices.
The Planning Commission business at the County Board meeting consisted of a division of a lot in the final phase of a plat, formerly owned by Linn Slattengren, sold to Robert Pavey. Slattengren's representative Ned Froberg presented at the planning commission meeting, asking for the okay to amend one lot plat in the St. Croix River Bluffs development. This was approved by the County Board last week on recommendation of the planning commission.
Also, an application for a cement contracting home business was tabled. Applicant William Sivanich did not attend to present his plan.
The public hearing on revising the Comprehensive County Parks Plan was brief.
Tony Peterfeso spoke about the extensive funding LARA has already put into developing two of the Ki-Chi-Saga Park fields. He said if the youth sports group was allowed to use the fields it has been responsible for developing; there wouldn't be a shortage of youth league fields. Adult leagues are using Ki-Chi-Saga fields much of the time, according to the schedules he shared.
The hearing was being held on a plan revision that would add a fourth field.
George Hanson, neighbor to Ki-Chi-Saga Park, said he had concerns about noise and congestion from an additional field. Glader Boulevard and the park interior road are insufficient to handle traffic at certain times, he said. He also asked for trees to be planted to help buffer the noise at the park.
Curtis Lendt, Wyoming, testified the county shouldn't put any money into anything that isn't a "need." He stressed the poor economy. The hearing was to only revise the comp plan, not to actually build anything, Lendt was told.
Helen Leier, Stanchfield, supported revising the plan to add disc golf to Frandsen County Park on Rush Lake.
The motion passed unanimously to revise the parks plans for Ki-Chi-Saga and Frandsen.
In public comment: Gene Olson invited everyone to a meeting scheduled July 22 at Lent Town Hall on LS Power's electric station plan. The meeting starts at 6:30 p.m.
Jim McCarthy asked the Board to take another look at special events permits, which the county planning commission discussed and determined it would not pursue.
McCarthy gave reasons such as the one time permit can better protect surrounding property owners, the permit fee will help the county recover manpower and materials costs associated with large events, being able to revoke one special permit makes enforcing non-compliance issues simpler.
Dawn Doering and Mark Koran spoke about the LS Power station. The Board needs to show more "leadership" on the issue and they should demand an Environmental Impact Statement.
Foster Mooney, Chisago Lake Township, shared his on-going concerns about dirt bikes and their nuisance use. He urged commissioners to attend the off-road races at the county fair and experience the noise firsthand. He quipped, "It is not the instrument (dirt bike) that is the problem, it is the tune that this particular instrument is usually playing."
The County Board also unanimously passed a resolution to replace the Kost Bridge, circa 1923. The Sunrise Township Board informed the county that inspectors found 50 percent of the bottom chord is "structurally unsound."
The project is proposed for 2010 or whenever state bridge funding becomes available. It's estimated at $600,000.
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